Call out the Army, give 'em guns and shoot down these looters. Bring on the tear gas, the water cannon, the plastic bullets, more plods, armoured cars, more money. Lock 'em up and throw away the key, build more prisons, stick it up 'em - teach 'em some respect. That'll really solve all our problems.
A small voice then says: " ... cheer on the introduction of plastic bullets and water cannon to our streets, a terrible admission of defeat and a further step down the dark staircase to the strong state and the end of liberty". This is Peter Hitchens.
Is this is a nation running so scared of its own children, that the only solution many can offer is to give more power to the state that caused the problems in the first place, and then mobilise the Army against them? Is this what it has come to ... a nation that forged and ruled the largest Empire in the history of mankind, the nation that defeated Hitler?
Perhaps, to paraphrase Churchill, the only things more stupid than politicians are the people who vote for them.
COMMENT: NEW RIOTS THREAD
